Back to ’backer: Reynolds grateful
Special-teamer gets confidence boost on defense
It was only one half — 15 snaps on defense in place of injured starter Shea McClellin — but for LaRoy Reynolds, itwas a measure of satisfaction and redemption.
A core special-teams player for most of his first two years in the NFL, Reynolds’ last stint on defense did not end well. He won a starting linebacker job with the Jaguars last season but lost it by Week 4. In his three games, the Jaguars’ defense allowed an NFL-worst 466 yards per game, 5.9 yards per play and 35 points per game in blowout losses to the Eagles (34-17), Redskins (41-10) and Colts (44-17).
On Sunday against the Chiefs, Reynolds — who was signed Sept. 30 to shore up special teams — replaced McClellin at inside linebacker after McClellin suffered a knee injury. He had two tackles, dropping Knile Davis for a twoyard loss, as the Bears did not allow a point in the second half and rallied for an 18-17 victory.
“I’m extremely grateful for it, definitely a confidence-booster,” said Reynolds, an undrafted free agent from Virginia in 2013 who led the Jaguars with 10 specialteams tackles last season.
“Not really playing my first two years in the league — playing mainly on special teams — being able to get in on defense and knowing that, ‘You can do this.’ You can do this regardless of the naysayers or critics. Everything that tells you you can’t do it. It was a real confidencebooster, saying, ‘All right. You can play in the NFL.’ ’’
It was kind of a mini-pop quiz for Reynolds. And he had the wind at his back after Jamaal Charles left the game with a knee injury. When Reynolds was in the game in the base defense, the Bears allowed 50 yards on six plays before Charles was injured; they allowed six yards on nine plays after he left.
“I didn’t put a grade on it, per se,” Reynolds said. “But I think the reviews from the coaches — everyone was kind of, ‘Good job for stepping in.’ I just took that as I did OK stepping in when I needed to.”
It remains to be seen if Reynolds gets a second chance. McClellin is likely out for the game Sunday against the Lions. The Bears promoted linebacker Jonathan Anderson, and he and Reynolds split time at McClellin’s “Mike” position in practice Wednesday. Rookie John Timu and Lamin Barrow also are in contention.
“We’re sifting through that,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “Maybe it’ll be one guy . . . or maybe it’ll be a group effort.”
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